Netherlands competed gamely for 34 overs in Chittagong, but Brendon McCullum struck an unruffled 65 from 45 to drive New Zealand's highest successful World Twenty20 chase, which was completed with six wickets and an over to spare. New Zealand needed 56 from the last six overs, before McCullum whipped a flat six over deep square leg to ease the final charge in motion. Had the man on the fence been right back on he rope, he might have caught McCullum to give Netherlands a chance, but McCullum would maul 30 from his last 12 balls, leaving Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham with a short skip to the finish.

Peter Borren and Tom Cooper had put on Netherlands' best stand against a Test nation, hitting 60 together towards the end of their team's innings, but though New Zealand only took four wickets, their discipline caged the opposition. Borren, who top-scored with 49, felt his team were about 20 runs short on a decent batting pitch. New Zealand's calculating chase confirmed as much.

Smart stats

Brendon McCullum has become the first player to score 2000 runs in T20Is. He has scored 600 more than the second-highest, Mahela Jayawardene.

McCullum's 65 is his 15th fifty-plus score (13 fifties, 2 hundreds), which is also a record. Chris Gayle is behind him with 12.

New Zealand's score of 152 for 4 is their highest in a successful run-chase in a World Twenty20 match. They've scored more on three occasions, but lost all those matches.

For Netherlands, Peter Borren, their captain, scored 49, which is his highest score in a Twenty20 game. His previous-best was 45 in a Caribbean T20 match against Sussex in 2012.

The partnership of 60 between Borren and Tom Cooper is Netherlands' highest in a Twenty20 international against a Test-playing nation.

Netherlands had had the best starts of the tournament before this match, averaging a run rate of 9.13 in the Powerplay, but managed only 37 for 1 in the first six overs, thanks largely to Trent Boult's parsimony. Boult replaced Tim Southee for this match, and his control at the outset delivered him the wicket of Stephan Myburgh for 16, when the batsman attempted an aggressive pull following a sedate start.

Borren's best T20 knock gave shape to Netherlands' middle overs, as he ventured calculated strikes against bowlers he fancied. Kane Williamson's solitary over disappeared for 17, after Borren advanced to deposit him over long on, before hitting two more fours in the over. Anderson would also suffer by his blade.

A reverse-swept boundary off his fourth ball suggested Tom Cooper had lost none of his form following two mediocre innings, and he would go on to wallop an unbeaten 40 off 23, reclaiming the top place in the tournament's run-scorers' table. Netherlands had been poised for a late blitz at 141 for 4 after 18 overs, but excellent death bowling ensured the final overs would wrest back momentum. Neesham - who had replaced Colin Munro for this match - sent down wide yorkers to concede only one run in the 19th, although three of them were very close to being called wides. Boult kept the final over to nine.

New Zealand's start had as been as restrained as the opposition's, but that was largely a result of a less ambitious outlook. McCullum would progress at not much better than a run-a-ball for much of his innings, as top-order teammates made starts and got out around him. Timm van der Gugten was the best of Netherlands' bowlers, taking 3 for 30 in four overs of lively, accurate seam, but Ahsan Malik's cutters were less effective in this match, despite the dry surface.

Malik's third over - the 16th of the innings - would bring the definitive shift for New Zealand, as McCullum lofted a six over deep extra cover to complete his 13th T20 fifty and Anderson bludgeoned a four down the ground to plunder 16 from the over. He had also become the first man to 2000 T20 international runs during the innings. McCullum departed in the next over, but with 17 needed off 19, he left the match firmly in New Zealand's hands.

Its a shame the Dutch and West Indies cricket management cannot thrash out reciprocal arrangements which see the Dutch figure in the WI domestic season and likewise. This would guarantee more cricket for all parties. This is even more important considering the Dutch have lost their international status.

POSTED BY
on | March 31, 2014, 8:46 GMT

Shane Bond, if that is you - you were a true ornament to the game, and you are missed.

Your record against my country (Aus) especially is one that will be envied. It's a sad era in cricket when the likes of you and Brett Lee aren't running around destroying teams with 150k+ swing.

What are your thoughts on the prominence of spin in the T20 format? What can be done to bring back true fast bowlers?

POSTED BY
wmendis
on | March 30, 2014, 20:34 GMT

Dear Mr. Shane Bond. You have misread my comment. I am not a Netherland but an Australian. I like New Zealand much more than Netherland.

What I said was the said Umpire even being an Australian he is not up to the world standard to officiate such tournaments.

No team can play against 12 or 13 players but they can play only against 11.

POSTED BY
android_user
on | March 30, 2014, 11:38 GMT

@wmendis Your team loses, blame the umpire. Umpires are human, not machines. No DRS needed. Its fun to see cricket in old ways.

POSTED BY
shortsillypoint
on | March 30, 2014, 9:24 GMT

Mc Cullum batted for the team, unlike the SA game and the younger guys followed. Guptil is a worry but if he comes right he is great. Agree with the comments about the bowling - try Williamson and Neesham before the batsmen are set and the slog goes on. Otherwise a big improvement but SL will be tough.Its 20 /20 - a lottery.

POSTED BY
android_user
on | March 30, 2014, 7:03 GMT

it seems South Afruca is destined to go all the way. India looks good but I would back . moizeLanka to win

POSTED BY
kiwicricketnut
on | March 30, 2014, 6:12 GMT

some strange stratagies are making hard work of this t20 tournament, why are they persisting with williamson as a bowling option, why did neesham only bowl 2 overs late in the innings and mills didn't bowl out his four, its almost like they go into the game without a bowling plan, if kyle mills isn't a death bowler, bowl him out at the start of the innings, hopefully they sort it out against srilanka and have the best players bowling out their four overs, making matters worse one of our premiere t20 batters is in terriable form, i don't think guptill can be risked in what is effectively a quarter final and maybe devcich should get a go, i still dont think nz have played their best xi yet which is another stratergy head scratcher, they would allready be in the semi's if they sorted this stuff out at the start of the tournament, instead, sadly against srilanka in these condition this is probably as far as we'll get, lets hope not

POSTED BY
on | March 30, 2014, 5:57 GMT

Neesham as an opener??? Just putting it out there. Or at least put him up the order in ODI's. He has a great temperament and always looks calm. He is the kind of player who with more time out the middle (being put up the order) will develop into a world class left hander.

POSTED BY
wmendis
on | March 30, 2014, 5:43 GMT

Umpiring in this T20 WC is subs-standard. Mr. Brian Oxenford is the most inconsistent and far below standard UMPIRE in this series. He was not consistent at all. In this match he made blunders that had a very bad effect on the results of the match. Comentators even discussed some of his decisions.

It is not the first time he gave wrong decisions. I am a keen follower of cricket and watch all the matches. The decision on wides in the last match would have been a cruicial one. Earlier he gave some decisions on caught behind as well as some LBW which were very poor.

Absent of DRS helped him to go with his decisions without any compromise. If DRS would have been there most of his decisions would have been reversed

Is there any penalties for umpires like this? I hope he should have NOT selected for big events like this.

POSTED BY
NostroGustro
on | March 29, 2014, 23:53 GMT

Pleased to watch Trent bowl with some reward in this format. Bit sloppy in the field which needs to be remedied before Sri Lanka. Great to watch Baz bat with maturity and bat us into a strong position but his dismissal was poor.

Selection dilemma over the pace options. Tim isn't stepping up to the plate. Mitch is bowling with pace but he bowls too short too often. We're not going to run through sides and that's a worry.

Marty looks hopelessly out of form opening but it's probably too late now for Anton to get a chance. It'll be a surprise if we get up over Sri Lanka but hope springs eternal. Prove me wrong guys.

POSTED BY
delboy
on | March 31, 2014, 11:47 GMT

Its a shame the Dutch and West Indies cricket management cannot thrash out reciprocal arrangements which see the Dutch figure in the WI domestic season and likewise. This would guarantee more cricket for all parties. This is even more important considering the Dutch have lost their international status.

POSTED BY
on | March 31, 2014, 8:46 GMT

Shane Bond, if that is you - you were a true ornament to the game, and you are missed.

Your record against my country (Aus) especially is one that will be envied. It's a sad era in cricket when the likes of you and Brett Lee aren't running around destroying teams with 150k+ swing.

What are your thoughts on the prominence of spin in the T20 format? What can be done to bring back true fast bowlers?

POSTED BY
wmendis
on | March 30, 2014, 20:34 GMT

Dear Mr. Shane Bond. You have misread my comment. I am not a Netherland but an Australian. I like New Zealand much more than Netherland.

What I said was the said Umpire even being an Australian he is not up to the world standard to officiate such tournaments.

No team can play against 12 or 13 players but they can play only against 11.

POSTED BY
android_user
on | March 30, 2014, 11:38 GMT

@wmendis Your team loses, blame the umpire. Umpires are human, not machines. No DRS needed. Its fun to see cricket in old ways.

POSTED BY
shortsillypoint
on | March 30, 2014, 9:24 GMT

Mc Cullum batted for the team, unlike the SA game and the younger guys followed. Guptil is a worry but if he comes right he is great. Agree with the comments about the bowling - try Williamson and Neesham before the batsmen are set and the slog goes on. Otherwise a big improvement but SL will be tough.Its 20 /20 - a lottery.

POSTED BY
android_user
on | March 30, 2014, 7:03 GMT

it seems South Afruca is destined to go all the way. India looks good but I would back . moizeLanka to win

POSTED BY
kiwicricketnut
on | March 30, 2014, 6:12 GMT

some strange stratagies are making hard work of this t20 tournament, why are they persisting with williamson as a bowling option, why did neesham only bowl 2 overs late in the innings and mills didn't bowl out his four, its almost like they go into the game without a bowling plan, if kyle mills isn't a death bowler, bowl him out at the start of the innings, hopefully they sort it out against srilanka and have the best players bowling out their four overs, making matters worse one of our premiere t20 batters is in terriable form, i don't think guptill can be risked in what is effectively a quarter final and maybe devcich should get a go, i still dont think nz have played their best xi yet which is another stratergy head scratcher, they would allready be in the semi's if they sorted this stuff out at the start of the tournament, instead, sadly against srilanka in these condition this is probably as far as we'll get, lets hope not

POSTED BY
on | March 30, 2014, 5:57 GMT

Neesham as an opener??? Just putting it out there. Or at least put him up the order in ODI's. He has a great temperament and always looks calm. He is the kind of player who with more time out the middle (being put up the order) will develop into a world class left hander.

POSTED BY
wmendis
on | March 30, 2014, 5:43 GMT

Umpiring in this T20 WC is subs-standard. Mr. Brian Oxenford is the most inconsistent and far below standard UMPIRE in this series. He was not consistent at all. In this match he made blunders that had a very bad effect on the results of the match. Comentators even discussed some of his decisions.

It is not the first time he gave wrong decisions. I am a keen follower of cricket and watch all the matches. The decision on wides in the last match would have been a cruicial one. Earlier he gave some decisions on caught behind as well as some LBW which were very poor.

Absent of DRS helped him to go with his decisions without any compromise. If DRS would have been there most of his decisions would have been reversed

Is there any penalties for umpires like this? I hope he should have NOT selected for big events like this.

POSTED BY
NostroGustro
on | March 29, 2014, 23:53 GMT

Pleased to watch Trent bowl with some reward in this format. Bit sloppy in the field which needs to be remedied before Sri Lanka. Great to watch Baz bat with maturity and bat us into a strong position but his dismissal was poor.

Selection dilemma over the pace options. Tim isn't stepping up to the plate. Mitch is bowling with pace but he bowls too short too often. We're not going to run through sides and that's a worry.

Marty looks hopelessly out of form opening but it's probably too late now for Anton to get a chance. It'll be a surprise if we get up over Sri Lanka but hope springs eternal. Prove me wrong guys.

POSTED BY
on | March 29, 2014, 22:41 GMT

So, they played Neesham?.. He got to bowl when Munro would not have and went for one run off the 19th over!? Then he came out and batted in singles and twos around the clock and guided us with Corey to comfortable win? Well, with that now being historic fact and the same being said for my comments before and after every match so far on cricinfo demanding Neesham be picked, I could rub it in.. but will not.
Congrats Black Caps management on reaching the best team, even if it is now with only one CRUCAL 'quarter final' against Sri Lanka to come... at least we got there and should stay there for some time (Corey at 5 and Neesham at 6! Easy!). It was openly stated that Munro was just a batting reserve for the ODI squad and in for Williamson in the t20 team... then they about turned and named them both... which was illogical.We have a better team now as prefer Neesham as batsman anyway and he can bowl too (1 run in 19th over!?) - and field!!
Lingering issue: Southee/Boult? Which one plays?

POSTED BY
StevieS
on | March 29, 2014, 20:44 GMT

Greatest_Game lucky, DL on their side? Where you watching the same game? The only thing lucky about that game was that Englands run rate didn't go further in arrears. We were going at 10 an over and the only batsman out was our only batsman out of form. Also we were batting against the weakest bowling lineup in the whole competition.

POSTED BY
on | March 29, 2014, 19:37 GMT

I am confused over the tactics. With the result of the SA England game no known...NZ needed to bat and win in 15 overs....to lift the run rate. Also in the NZ South African game....knowing you had Steyn to bowl another 2 overs...you would of thought the players would have had more urgency against the change bowlers.

Maybe NZ Cricket need to do what Hesson did to Taylor and remove him from coaching the T20 team. The non-inclusion of Vettori and Ryder along with the lack of thought towards the tactics...I struggle to see how we can win this tournament.

POSTED BY
espncricinfomobile
on | March 29, 2014, 13:46 GMT

Nice win for kiwis. Not the best fielding effort. But a wins a win. Now lets just hope South Africa beat England and then we beat Sri Lanka

POSTED BY
Greatest_Game
on | March 29, 2014, 13:15 GMT

Well, NZ finally won a game in which they batted more than 5 overs, and did not have Messrs Duckworth & Lewis on the team! Like everyone in world cricket - except the Aussies but they don't count - I like the Black Caps. Unfortunately, the way the tournament has played out, they go into their game against SL without the confidence of a win against a team rated higher than the Netherlands, just a lucky D/L win and a should have, could have but didn't loss against SA - a loss than must still sting.

None of that will do much for their confidence and sense of progress as a team. I'd like to see them beat SL, and move into the semis: hopefully they are at full strength physically & mentally. Good luck to the Kiwis.

POSTED BY
StevieS
on | March 29, 2014, 13:02 GMT

22many Mills bowled OK, he will play next game as for him only bowling 3 overs, well that was McCullums poor captaincy by giving Williamson a over.

POSTED BY
CodandChips
on | March 29, 2014, 12:49 GMT

The class of New Zealand just too strong for the Netherlands in the end. But nontheless, the Netherlands will come out of this tournament with a good reputation. Destroying Ireland, the best of the associates, and pushing New Zealand and South Africa nearly all the way.And don't forget, they still have to play England, a county that they beat in 2009, and that can boast the worst bowling attack in the competition. Yes they beat Sri Lanka, but they are still largely a poor side.

My prediction of Sri Lanka and New Zealand qualifying is still possible. But South Africa have a good chance of spoiling that today.

POSTED BY
Mervo
on | March 29, 2014, 11:42 GMT

The Netherlands? When does Australia get to play them?

POSTED BY
on | March 29, 2014, 11:12 GMT

Dutch batted well. Ahsan Malik is in great form he may surprise to Kiwis.

POSTED BY
22many
on | March 29, 2014, 11:09 GMT

When will McCullum learn...Williamson is not a bowler in 20/20....once more gambles and puts his side at risk.
Mills also should have just played his last game for NZ...Liability in the field and only bowls 3 overs these days,

POSTED BY
Oracle_Magus
on | March 29, 2014, 10:46 GMT

Netherlands has proved yet again that they belong in the big league with their batting. Malinga, Mendis and Co. have always been a mystery to even the best batsmen and one can't look too much into the Netherlands performance against them, especially since they haven't played much against spin in the sub continent pitches. But these boys have shown great progress and commitment and is going to be a team to watch out for. They have set up a good score here against the NZ. Let hope they will be able to defend it and register their first win. All the best boys. Cheers!

POSTED BY
on | March 29, 2014, 10:43 GMT

Yes, one of the most dissapointing efforts in the field I have seen in a long time for New Zealand.
Why southiee is dropped after never giving him the chance to open is ridiculous.
Inexperienced New Zealand players showing their inexperience.
This team ahs good potential but really they are 2-3 years away from peak.
The younger players need some time to become clinical.

POSTED BY
wapuser
on | March 29, 2014, 10:42 GMT

1) Is there anyone who can smell New Zealand defeat here.
2) If Pakistani team hire on of these big hitters of Netherlands as a batting consultants that gana be very handy for Pakistan.

POSTED BY
bobbo2
on | March 29, 2014, 10:19 GMT

When will NZ learn that they should bat first? With little dew around early they had a great chance to up the percentage. They lost to SA chasing and Netherlands may well put on an ok score here

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
bobbo2
on | March 29, 2014, 10:19 GMT

When will NZ learn that they should bat first? With little dew around early they had a great chance to up the percentage. They lost to SA chasing and Netherlands may well put on an ok score here

POSTED BY
wapuser
on | March 29, 2014, 10:42 GMT

1) Is there anyone who can smell New Zealand defeat here.
2) If Pakistani team hire on of these big hitters of Netherlands as a batting consultants that gana be very handy for Pakistan.

POSTED BY
on | March 29, 2014, 10:43 GMT

Yes, one of the most dissapointing efforts in the field I have seen in a long time for New Zealand.
Why southiee is dropped after never giving him the chance to open is ridiculous.
Inexperienced New Zealand players showing their inexperience.
This team ahs good potential but really they are 2-3 years away from peak.
The younger players need some time to become clinical.

POSTED BY
Oracle_Magus
on | March 29, 2014, 10:46 GMT

Netherlands has proved yet again that they belong in the big league with their batting. Malinga, Mendis and Co. have always been a mystery to even the best batsmen and one can't look too much into the Netherlands performance against them, especially since they haven't played much against spin in the sub continent pitches. But these boys have shown great progress and commitment and is going to be a team to watch out for. They have set up a good score here against the NZ. Let hope they will be able to defend it and register their first win. All the best boys. Cheers!

POSTED BY
22many
on | March 29, 2014, 11:09 GMT

When will McCullum learn...Williamson is not a bowler in 20/20....once more gambles and puts his side at risk.
Mills also should have just played his last game for NZ...Liability in the field and only bowls 3 overs these days,

POSTED BY
on | March 29, 2014, 11:12 GMT

Dutch batted well. Ahsan Malik is in great form he may surprise to Kiwis.

POSTED BY
Mervo
on | March 29, 2014, 11:42 GMT

The Netherlands? When does Australia get to play them?

POSTED BY
CodandChips
on | March 29, 2014, 12:49 GMT

The class of New Zealand just too strong for the Netherlands in the end. But nontheless, the Netherlands will come out of this tournament with a good reputation. Destroying Ireland, the best of the associates, and pushing New Zealand and South Africa nearly all the way.And don't forget, they still have to play England, a county that they beat in 2009, and that can boast the worst bowling attack in the competition. Yes they beat Sri Lanka, but they are still largely a poor side.

My prediction of Sri Lanka and New Zealand qualifying is still possible. But South Africa have a good chance of spoiling that today.

POSTED BY
StevieS
on | March 29, 2014, 13:02 GMT

22many Mills bowled OK, he will play next game as for him only bowling 3 overs, well that was McCullums poor captaincy by giving Williamson a over.

POSTED BY
Greatest_Game
on | March 29, 2014, 13:15 GMT

Well, NZ finally won a game in which they batted more than 5 overs, and did not have Messrs Duckworth & Lewis on the team! Like everyone in world cricket - except the Aussies but they don't count - I like the Black Caps. Unfortunately, the way the tournament has played out, they go into their game against SL without the confidence of a win against a team rated higher than the Netherlands, just a lucky D/L win and a should have, could have but didn't loss against SA - a loss than must still sting.

None of that will do much for their confidence and sense of progress as a team. I'd like to see them beat SL, and move into the semis: hopefully they are at full strength physically & mentally. Good luck to the Kiwis.